|
Friday 18 December 2020 (Update #154)
 Cases of COVID-19 infection continue to increase rapidly in Havering.
Over 400 deaths from COVID-19 have been recorded in the borough since March.
Our local hospitals are at and above capacity, our registrars service are seeing a significant increase in death registration (which is having a deeply personal impact on them and putting stress levels at dangerous highs), and local funeral directors are reporting more demand than they can cope with.
That's why we are now living under Tier 3 restrictions.
All of this acts as a call for us to take action now – a call to change our Christmas preparations to limit the contact we have with other people, particularly those who may be more vulnerable to the life-threatening impacts of COVID-19.
If you need to form a Christmas bubble next week (23 - 27 December), you need to take preventative action from now until then so you do not put your loved ones' lives at risk. Don't meet up with anyone you do not live with and reduce the number of journeys you make, and please work from home if you can.
In happier news, I was very pleased to be able to see at first hand the start of the COVID-19 vaccination programme for those aged over 80 in our borough earlier this week.
I saw 81 year-old Alice and 83 year-old John from Harold Park who were among the first to receive the vaccine. Alice told me that she just wanted to feel safe again.
Once injected, residents are placed in an observation area to check for any initial reaction, before they are permitted to leave. They are then invited to return for a second dose of the vaccine in January. Read more on this later in this bulletin.
I hope that more deliveries of the vaccine will be made soon so that we can continue to get more people vaccinated and ultimately reduce the rate of the infection in the borough.
I know it's tough after nine months but please keep doing your bit to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Keep asking yourself "Am I absolutely certain that I'm not carrying the COVID-19 virus?" If in any doubt, keep away from elderly friends and relations and follow the Government's advice: wash your hands, wear a face covering whenever it is required or appropriate, and keep your space from people who don't live with you.
Have a good, and safe, weekend.
Cllr Damian White
Leader, Havering Council
The first wave of the COVID-19 vaccines have started being rolled out in Havering to the most elderly and vulnerable residents.
Council Leader, Cllr Damian White (pictured), went along to one of the three vaccine hubs in Havering on Wednesday (16 December) to see how the vaccine was being delivered, and to meet some of the first people to receive it.
The vaccine is now being made available to people over the age of 80 who are being contacted by the NHS and given an appointment to visit one of the hubs.
Please do not contact your GP or a hospital to seek a vaccine. The NHS will contact you.
When the NHS does contact you, please attend your booked appointments and continue to follow all the guidance to control the spread of the virus and save lives.
A range of information about the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine that is now being used has been published.
The Government has also published details of the order of priority for people to be offered a COVID-19 vaccination.
|
Five Havering libraries – Collier Row, Elm Park, Gidea Park, Harold Wood and South Hornchurch – are being prepared as sites to deliver mass COVID-19 testing as a result of the new Tier 3 restrictions.
From today (Friday 18 December), no appointments at these libraries will be possible and orange sacks cannot be collected from these locations. Please do not try to come to these libraries to return a book, even by posting through the door.
Appointments can still be made for our five larger libraries – Harold Hill, Hornchurch, Rainham, Romford and Upminster – and orange sacks can be collected from them during opening hours. These libraries will be open for six days a week after Christmas for booked “select and collect” appointments.
Library fines are still suspended so don’t worry about needing to return a book on time.
|
All secondary school staff, students and families of children who do not think they have coronavirus should now get tested.
Until Thursday 24 December two special testing centres for secondary school staff, students and families of children who do not have symptoms have been set up.
These testing centres are at Dorrington Gardens Car Park, Hornchurch RM12 4HX, and Viking Way Car Park, Rainham RM13 9YG.
The sites are open 9am to 3pm, including this weekend, and there is no need to book before you visit. You can walk or drive through these testing sites.The tests will involve a swab of the nose and throat and results should be available within 48 hours.
These testing sites are run by contractors working for the Government, not Havering Council. The number of tests available each day at each site will be limited and tests will be available on a first-come-first-served basis.
Alternatively, school staff, pupils and families can apply for a home test by going online. Select the option saying you have been told to get a test by the Council.
Testing if you have COVID-19 symptoms
If you have COVID-19 symptoms, pre-bookable testing sites continue to be available at the rear of the Town Hall, Cherry Tree Lane, Rainham and Dagnam Park Drive, Harold Hill.
To use these centres book a test online or call 119.
Stay at home while you are waiting for a home test kit or a test site appointment.
See our video on what the test involves.
If you receive a positive test result, you must complete a 10-day isolation period. Stay as far away from other members of your household as possible, especially if they are clinically extremely vulnerable. Avoid using shared spaces such as kitchens and other living areas while others are present and take your meals back to your room to eat.
If your test is negative, you can stop self-isolating as long as you are well.
|
The Government has announced that the Furlough Scheme – otherwise known as the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, which has so far supported 9.6 million jobs across the UK – will now be extended by an additional month, until the end of April 2021.
Employers can continue to claim 80 per cent of wages for employees unable to work due to COVID restrictions until that time, with the aim of offering more certainty to businesses affected by closure so that they can plan ahead.
|
A series of virtual events to mark the start of the festive season have been organised by Havering Council's Events team.
This Saturday, virtual events include a face painting tutorial, students singing Christmas carols, a chance to learn how to make your own Christmas tree decorations, and a choir from the Frances Bardsley Academy singing "O Holy Night".
On Sunday (20 December) at noon you can learn how to make your own Santa and Elf from recycled toilet roll tubes.
At 10pm on Sunday there's a cooking tutorial showing you step-by-step how to make your own festive sausage rolls.
At 2pm there's a Santa face painting tutorial, and children will love to join in singing songs from the film Frozen with the Lightnin’ Drama group at 3pm.
Finally at 4pm on Sunday Lauren Cleland sings ‘Have yourself a merry little Christmas’.
Join in the celebrations on the Council's Facebook or YouTube channels.
|
Community-minded students recently organised a litter-pick around Havering College.
Joined by Ardleigh Green campus Deputy Principal Ian Budge, the volunteer students wore high-viz jackets, gloves and carried litter-picker tools and large bags to collect rubbish and between them managed to clean around five miles of roads.
Starting at All Saints Church they split up into pairs and worked on side streets leading from Squirrels Heath Road, Ardleigh Green Road and in and around local businesses.
Litter patrols will continue to be run regularly from the college and any other members of the community who wish to join are very welcome. PPE and equipment is provided.
|
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has appointed a census engagement manager to support Havering residents and help make Census 2021 a success.
Adepeju Said, the area’s census engagement manager, will help organisations, charities, faith groups and community leaders within the borough raise awareness of the census and the value to residents in taking part.
The census is a once-in-a-decade survey that provides a snapshot of households in England and Wales, helping to plan and fund public services. Ultimately, it ensures funds are invested in emergency services, health care, school places and other vital services.
Adepeju, known as PJ, would like to meet with community leaders (virtually) in Havering and help understand the implications at grass root levels of challenges the communities may face when filling their census forms and the level of support the community may require.
For the first time, the census will be run primarily online, making it easy for most people to complete the questionnaire on any device – whether that be a computer, a mobile phone or a tablet. Local Census support centres will be offering help, while paper questionnaires will be available for those who need them. All census staff will operate in line with the Government’s COVID-19 guidance.
The census will be held on 21 March 2021.
|
Current EU pet passports issued in Great Britain will not be valid for travel to the EU or Northern Ireland from 1 January 2021.
Earlier this week the government updated the guidance for taking pets abroad.
In addition to the current requirements for dogs, cats, or ferrets to be microchipped and vaccinated against rabies for travel, from 1 January you will also need an animal health certificate (AHC) instead of a pet passport.
To get an AHC you must visit your vet no more than 10 days before travelling to the EU or Northern Ireland.
The AHC needs to be signed by an official vet. Check with your vet that they can issue AHCs for pets.
You must take proof of your pet’s microchipping date and your pet’s vaccination history when visiting your vet to receive an AHC.
|
If you’re visiting our parks this weekend, remember that if your children use the play equipment, they should not put their mouths on it.
Hand sanitiser should be applied before and after they use the climbing frames and swings.
Please also follow social distancing guidelines and use bins for any masks, gloves or empty sanitiser bottles.
Help us to keep you and others safe while enjoying our parks.
|
 Havering Council's annual singing competition was conducted online this year in partnership with TIME FM.
The standard was very high and we would like to thank everyone who took part. You can view winning submissions online.
The winners will be live on air on TIME FM from 10.15am tomorrow (Saturday 19 December).
To register for next year’s Havering Voice contact arts@havering.gov.uk.
Former Havering councillor Keith Wells, died yesterday (Thursday 17 December).
Mr Wells served as a Conservative councillor representing the Gooshays Ward from 2006 to 2010.
A minute’s silence will be held at a meeting of the Full Council on Wednesday 20 January 2021.
The Leader of the Council, Cllr Damian White said: “We are all deeply saddened by this news. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this tragic time. He will be missed.”
|
With no fireworks, events or late-night hospitality, London's tube train network will not run all night on New Year's Eve and will instead operate a normal weekday service.
Londoners who do need to use the public transport network on 31 December are encouraged by Transport for London (TfL) to complete their journeys as early as possible and before midnight.
If you can, whenever you may have to use public transport, plan ahead and travel during quiet times.
Face coverings must be worn for the full duration of journeys on the public transport network, including inside stations, and in taxis and private hire vehicles.
If you do not, you could be denied travel, or receive a minimum £200 fine (reduced to £100 if paid within 14 days) which will double each time you are caught not wearing a face covering, up to £6,400.
|
Work on gas pipes in New Road, Rainham will continue for one more week.
Access will be maintained to properties and businesses in the road at all times, but there will be a temporary ‘no left turn’ restriction into New Road from Bridge Road.
Resurfacing work in Harold Court Road in Harold Wood will continue until Monday 21 December. Work will take place between 8am and 5pm. During the work the road will be closed to traffic.
Repairs to a bus stop and resurfacing work in Collier Row Road, Romford will take place between 11 and 26 January. Carriageway resurfacing work will also be taking place in Brentwood Road at the Drill Roundabout from 11 to 13 January. This will be followed by the laying of high friction surfacing to the roundabout approaches between 27 and 29 January.
Straight Road in Harold Hill between Gallows Corner junction and Faringdon Avenue will be resurfaced from 13 to 15 January. During these overnight works Straight Road will be closed to southbound traffic.
|
|
